Pakistan ruling coalition to impeach Musharraf (Lead)

Islamabad, Aug 7 (IANS) Pakistan’s ruling coalition Thursday decided to impeach President Pervez Musharraf following his failure to win the trust of the newly elected parliament. The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also announced their decision to restore the Supreme Court judges sacked by Musharraf in November last year.

Stating that the PPP and PML-N of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would work jointly to make the “transition to genuine democracy”, Zardari pointed out that Musharraf failed to resign despite his pledge to do if the Pakistan Muslim League party backed by him lost the parliamentary polls.

“He continues to cling to the office of the president,” Zardari said, adding that Musharraf had also failed to address the new parliament, elected in February.

The PPP chief accused the Musharraf regime of pushing Pakistan towards economic disaster. “His policies have weakened the federation and eroded the trust in national institutions.

“In view of the above, and his failure to take a vote of confidence from the newly elected parliament, it has become imperative to move towards impeachment against General Musharraf,” he said.

Zardari said that the Supreme Court judges who were sacked in November after they took on Musharraf would be restored to their positions.